St. Peter's Catholic Church in Mendota Heights[a] is the oldest church in continuous use in the state of Minnesota. Established as a community in 1840, a log church was built in 1842, and the still-standing historic church was constructed in 1853. A modern parish building now serves as the worship site for the community, but the historic church is still used for various liturgies.
Before a church building was constructed, Catholics first worshipped in a house owned by Jean-Baptiste Faribault. While Galtier was on a missionary tour in Wisconsin in the summer of 1842, the house collapsed, nearly killing Father Augustin Ravoux who was taking care of the parish at the time. The house was replaced by a log church which was dedicated on October 2, 1842.[6][7]: 46 [8] Ravoux became the pastor in 1844, a position that he held until 1857. He alternated between the log chapels of Saint Paul and Saint Peter, only taking up full-time residence at Mendota once Joseph Cretin became bishop and took control of the newly designated cathedral log chapel of Saint Paul in 1851.[9]: 79 [7]: 57
Historic church
Ravoux was kept busy as a full-time pastor; in his first five-and-a-half years, Ravoux celebrated almost 500 baptisms, 100 weddings, and 65 funerals.[9]: 80 The growing congregation required a larger worship space than the log church, and in 1853 the limestone Church of Saint Peter was constructed at a cost of $4,425 ($162,061 in 2023).[10][6] The rear of the church contained living quarters for the priests.[11]
The log building formerly serving as the church became the parish school until it was torn down in 1896 to make room for a railroad line.[12] At that point, the Sibley House became the school until 1910.[6] A larger bell tower was added in 1880. In 1903–1904 the parish reduced the size of the balcony and excavated under the floor to add heating plant.[11] The stained glass windows were also added in 1904.[10] The steeple was destroyed by a storm in 1951 and replaced in 1954.[13] A new school building was built in 1956–1957.[6]
Current status
In 1972, due to declining enrollment and the need for a larger sanctuary for the community, the school was closed and converted into a church. The larger church building was completed in 1991.[6] The historic church underwent a major renovation in 1975, with disrepair seriously threatening the structural integrity of the church.[14] The renovations were completed in 1978, costing $284,000 ($1.33 million in 2023). In addition to being structurally strengthened, the church was remodeled to appear how it would have looked in the 1890s. The 1954 steeple was removed and replaced by one modeling the late-19th century bell tower, the floor was redone, and paintings on the walls were restored.[15]
The historic church remains standing and open for tours and is used for Eucharistic adoration, daily Mass, weddings, and funerals.[5][16] At the time it was established, it was the fifth Catholic church that had been constructed in Minnesota; however, it is the only one that remains and is the oldest church of any denomination in continuous use in the state.[13][8]
^While originally founded in the area known as Mendota (from the Dakota "Bdóte"[2][3]), the church now is situation in the incorporated city of Mendota Heights, which was established in 1956.[4]
^ abO'Connell, Marvin Richard (2009). Pilgrims to the Northland: the Archdiocese of St. Paul, 1840–1962. University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN978-0-268-03729-1.
^Becker, Betsy (September 21, 1978). "Oldest church has 'new look'". St. Paul Dispatch. p. Extra East 3. Retrieved November 27, 2024 – via GenealogyBank.
